“I Am General Kago”;Interesting Details About The Dreaded Maumau General

On 28th March 1954, in response to a Mau Mau woman scout who had intelligence report that the British Forces were mobilizing to provide back up to KAR post in Kandara which was being shelled by Mau Mau fighters, the brave General Kago calmly replied to her

“Maitu ndukamake, reke moke nimekumenya njitagwo Kago Wa Mboko, mutongoria wa mbutu cia wiyathi Murang'a, guku maitu ni gwitu nyakeru ni ageni”

General Kago was born Cege Wa Kariuki sometime around 1919 in Rwathia, Iyego Location 12 of Fort Hall and rose to be the most brave, one of the best war strategists and tactician the armed struggle for freedom had.

In 1939 Cege was drafted to the Kings African Rifles where he travelled across Europe, Middle East and Asia fighting along the allied forces on the British front where he gained real time war strategies from his masters, he was lucky enough to come back home alive after the world war and settled in Nairobi and in 1946 he engaged as a newspaper vendor for the radical KAU party until early 1953 where he moved to the Rift Valley and lived as a squatter on a settler farm where he and many Kikuyu's who were alienated from their lands were greatly oppressed, Cege undertook the Mau Mau oath and joined the MbuRu Ngembo(Mbutu cia Ruguru) Battalion secretly before they were repariated back to Kikuyuland on the aftermath of declaration of state of emergency in late 1952.


With his war charisma, Cege was able to create his own battalion operating in Murang'a and parts of Kiambu, the battalion was part of the Iregi Army of Murang'a which had other Generals namely; Gitau Matejagwo, Ihuura Kareri, Nyoro Kiragu and lead by Gen. Macharia Kimemia.

General Kago's battalion choose to fight on the front end and at rare occasions went hiding into the forest, his battalion was also largely independent from Dedan Kimathi's battalion although both Generals Kago and Kimathi maintained close communication and Kago would attend KLFA meetings chaired by Field Marshall Dedan Kimathi.

General Kago was a fine fearless fighter who would carry out attacks on the enemy with precision and would march his battalion in broad daylight carrying high the MauMau flag, his prowess also earned him other names including General Makanyanga and General Kiharagania.


Here are some of the most memorable raids planned and lead by the legendary General Kago which made the British celebrate the news of his demise, he was so good that the British nicknamed him the Black Napoleon!, he rose to full prominence after the death of his comrade General Matejagwo in December 1953

29th April, his battalion attacked Rwathia home guards post and around 16 enemies were eliminated and the post levelled just to what the Levellation army stood for later in 1954, his men again attacked and killed Rwathia's chief and dozens of loyalist and hoisted Mau Mau flag on the post

On 2nd June during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth Gen Kago stagged widespead attacks to coincide with the event, Kiruri Ichichi and Githambo were successful raided and shelled.

June 27 1953,he lead his battalion and raided Muriranja camp in upper Mugoiri and all the enemies were wiped out,they released all prisoners held there

July 20 1953, his contingent ambushed a British convoy about to enter the Aberdare forest to arrest Dedan Kimathi and killed 4 soldiers and seriously injured Davidson Stanley a soldier of fortune

August 20 '53- Attacked Gacarage-ini post for the second time and completely shelled it killing 10 enemies

June 9 '53, Ambushed an enemy convoy in Loc 2 at Kandenderu center and wiped out 10 enemies

He engaged British forces in Gatamaiyo Location in Kiambu and his men managed to kill 9 enemies and went on to torch their camp and took away with their ammunition

In Feb 1954, his battalion attacked and destroyed a power station that lit Fort Hall town and would after a few days kill the D.O of Mihuti area.


In a nutshell, around 5th March, General Kago received additional 150 fighters and together with his battalion of About 600 fighters they completely leveled Kiria-ini Post and proceeded for Kandara for the second time where the first time they had killed chief Njiiri's son.

Kago's battalion successful launched the attack in Mariira area and killed the area's D.O Patterson and the battle would only grow bitter and bloody and unfortunately on 31st March 1954, General Kago was shot, he was captured and burnt alive, he died a martyr!

The Colonial masters couldn't believe they finally captured the mythical Gen.Kago and would mount public address systems on their fighter planes that went round in Murang'a announcing and celebrating the death of the iconic General Kago

Its from these incident that Joseph Kamaru captures in his song 'Tugatigithanio ni Gikuú'

“Turi o hau ndege igiuka ituikaniirie marigu-ini, ikiugaga ati Kago ni mukuú, mwendwa wakwa akinjira ni tuharaganie cai mbara ndiri mwago...”